show biz

ACTRESS Camila Morrone looks up for a golden globe or two at the premiere of series two of The Night Manager.

The 28-year-old, who plays Roxana Bolaños, wore a sheer maxi dress with a low-cut golden top.

Actor Tom Hiddleston, who returns for the second series, was also at the premiere in London’s Southbank with actress fiancée Zawe Ashton.

Standing next to her suited-and-booted partner, the 41-year-old British actress stunned in a full length bright red dress.

The first run of the award-winning spy thriller, based on a John le Carré novel, was shown on BBC One in 2016.

It quickly became one of BBC iPlayer’s most watched shows that year, with nearly 10million views.

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Series two will begin on New Year’s Day.

Camila first rose to fame after starring in James Franco’s film Bukowski.

Since then, Camila has starred in Never Goin’ Back, Death Wish, Mickey and the Bear, and Valley Girl.

She also stars as Camila Dunne in the 2022 Amazon Prime mini-series, Daisy Jones & The Six.

Camila also has a successful modelling career, appearing on the cover of the Turkish edition of Vogue in 2016.

A San Francisco supervisor has proposed increasing the city’s film and television tax credit to lure more productions to the Bay Area.

Board President Rafael Mandelman introduced legislation Tuesday that would create a tiered rebate system based on local spending on items like San Francisco resident wages, services or goods.

To qualify, most productions must spend a minimum of $500,000 in the city and shoot at least five days of principal photography there. Those productions also get a 100% rebate on city agency fees, including permits and police services.

Then, under the new proposal, those projects could get 10% back on the first million dollars spent in San Francisco, then 20% on any qualified local spending beyond that, said Manijeh Fata, executive director of the San Francisco Film Commission.

“As localities across the state compete to attract more film production, San Francisco must stay in the game,” Mandelman said in a statement. “Strengthening our film incentive program will keep jobs in San Francisco and help ensure this important economic activity doesn’t bypass us.”

The legislation is expected to go to a committee hearing next month, with a final vote potentially at the end of January or early February, Fata said.

Though San Francisco’s production incentive was established in 2006, the program has been “underutilized,” said Supervisor Connie Chan, who is co-sponsoring the legislation.

“I support this legislative update so we can ensure the original intent and benefits of the program can be fully materialized,” she said in a statement. “I expect the film rebate program to deliver robust job opportunities for workers, creative promotion of our City through films that will boost tourism and increase sales tax revenue with film industry spending.”

San Francisco’s incentive proposal comes five months after California increased the cap on the state’s film and television tax credit program in an attempt to curb runaway production to other states and countries.

California now allocates $750 million annually to the program, up from $330 million. Legislators also broadened the type of productions eligible to apply for the credit.

Since then, more than three dozen TV shows, including a “Baywatch” reboot, and 52 films have been awarded tax credits.

New data has shed light on the positive and life-saving effects of using the correct pronouns for trans and non-binary youth.

On 10 December, The Trevor Project shared their new study, ‘Pronoun Usage and Mental Health Impacts of Pronoun Respect in TGNB Young People.’

As the title suggests, the report explores why it’s essential to respect and use the pronouns requested by trans and non-binary youth.

According to the informative data, which was collected through The Trevor Project’s 2024 US National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, trans and non-binary youth whose pronouns were respected had lower rates of past-year suicide attempts (11%) compared to those whose pronouns were not respected (17%).

Less than half of trans and non-binary young people (46%) reported that a lot, most, or all of the people in their lives respected their pronouns.

At the same time, trans and non-binary youth who use binary pronouns (she/her, he/him) reported higher levels of pronoun respect (62%) than those who use a combination of binary and non-binary terms, solely non-binary pronouns, or other pronouns (38%).

When examining pronoun respect across demographics, researchers found that older trans and non-binary individuals aged 18 to 24 were more likely to report pronoun respect (51%) than those aged 13 to 17 (41%).

Amongst the different racial and ethnic groups, Middle Eastern/North African (57%) and White (48%) trans and non-binary young people reported higher rates of pronoun respect.

52% of Trans boys/men and 48% of trans girls/women said their pronouns were respected compared to individuals questioning their gender (40%) and non-binary individuals (37%).

Lastly, 32% of trans and non-binary young people reported exclusive use of he/him, she/her pronouns, while 68% said they used they/them, a combination of binary and non-binary terms or other gender expressing pronouns.

In an interview with The Advocate, the study’s lead researcher, Steven Hobaica, offered further insight into the data and why respecting trans and non-binary youth’s pronouns is crucial to their thriving.

“When we don’t respect someone’s request to call them by the name that they go by or the pronouns that they use, that is actively disrespecting their sense of self, their dignity, and the fact that the vast majority of people in the world do not have a problem respecting someone’s nickname or respecting a cisgender person who does change their name like that,” he explained.

“There’s this idea that people think that youth can’t know themselves, and that’s just not true. All data that we have on this topic, as well as our own lived experiences with identity, where many of us have firm understandings of our identity at very young ages.”

You can read The Trevor Project’s ‘Pronoun Usage and Mental Health Impacts of Pronoun Respect in TGNB Young People’ report here.

Married At First Sight UK contestants Leigh and Davide have discussed behind-the-scenes secrets about phone use and restrictions

A star from Married At First Sight UK has opened up on a little-known secret about the show that might leave fans gobsmacked.

The tenth series of the popular E4 dating programme was full of drama and chaos, with a fresh batch of singletons hoping to meet their soulmate at the altar. For some, it was smooth sailing with immediate sparks flying, but for others, there were numerous hurdles to overcome.

This series had everything from shocking revelations to accusations of cheating. Despite several couples making it to the final vows and continuing their relationships outside the show, only one pair – Abi and John – are still together weeks after the series ended.

Post-show, a string of breakups were announced, including Rebecca and Bailey and Davide and Keye, as cast members continue to share their experiences from the show.

Now, one participant has unveiled a behind-the-scenes secret that could astonish some viewers, reports OK!

During an appearance on the Private Parts Podcast, a snippet of which was posted on Instagram, members Leigh and Davide were asked if they were allowed to use their personal mobile phones during filming. The answer, unsurprisingly, is no – they were given production phones.

But what fans might not know is that the production teams allegedly monitor their phones and don’t permit them to form groups of four outside of filming.

On the podcast, Leigh – who was paired with Leah on the programme, confessed it was “f***** chaos” behind the scenes when the cast went out for drinks, with Davide comparing it to “like being at uni again”.

Davide, who was coupled with Keye on the series before they announced their separation, revealed: “We’re not supposed to be in more than groups of four, because they track your phones, the production phones they gave us, they track them.”

After confirming they weren’t permitted to use their personal mobiles, presenter Olivia questioned how participant Steven managed to access dating platform Hinge – following revelations he’d been active on the app.

Davide explained: “He got his phone back when he went home.”

Leigh chimed in: “This is the thing about this story right, I don’t think that this has ever been explained. So Nelly and Steven had got to a point where I think they both knew it wasn’t going to work.”

Taking to Instagram to respond, Steven posted: “We both had the conversation the day we came back together after partner swap about it being done. We were asked to leave it open so we could do the Dinner Party & Commitment ceremony & between partner swap and the last CC it was about 10 days wait… so we both knew it was done.”

Married At First Sight UK can be viewed on Channel 4

AN A-list star’s sibling has revealed her incredible nine stone weight loss, which she has achieved using injection Ozempic.

The star is the sister of a very famous British comedian, who is known both at home and across the pond. Can you guess who it is?

Ruth Corden, the younger sister of Gavin & Stacey legend James Corden, is the one who has shared her staggering weight loss.

Sharing a side-by-side comparison of her weight loss, Ruth, 43, took to Instagram to share that she not only looks different physically, but has had a mental shift.

She wrote: “The girl on the left learned to walk into every room like she had to be dazzling, loud, magnetic, unforgettable, because being fat taught her that if she didn’t take control of the space, the space would take control of her.

“She believed that if all eyes were on her for anything other than her body, the judgement wouldn’t land as hard.

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“She believed being larger than life could quieten the voices in her head. So she smiled. She entertained. She insisted she was “fine.” All the while, she was exhausted from performing just to feel safe.”

Ruth continued: “The girl on the right walks in as she is, softer, quieter, more herself.

“And this kind of truth is the bravest thing I’ve ever worn, terrifying in its exposure, freeing in its weightlessness.”

Friends, fans and celebrities took to the comment section of the post, including Jamie Oliver’s wife Jools.

“Smashing it you look wonderful,” wrote Jools.

While Ruth has been documenting her journey using Ozempic, which is a medication for diabetes that can be used for weight loss, her brother had the opposite experience.

Last year, James revealed that he turned to weight loss jabs in an attempt to shed some pounds before the hotly-anticipated Gavin & Stacey reboot.

James, who admitted he has previously been bullied over his weight, said: “I tried Ozempic, and it won’t be surprising to you when you look at me now, that it didn’t really work.

“I tried it for a bit and then what I realised was I was like, ‘Oh no, nothing about my eating has anything to do with being hungry.’

“All it does is make you feel not hungry. But I am very rarely eating [just because I’m hungry].”

He added: “You are looking at someone who’s eaten a king size, and when I say king size Dairy Mil – one you give someone for Christmas – in a carwash.

“None of that was like, oh, I’m so hungry. It is not that, it’s something else.”

 NHS doctors have also warned of “dangerous” complications that come when the drug is “abused”.

A’ja Wilson is i’nevitable.

Following a historic championship season, the WNBA All-Star was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year on Wednesday. It’s the latest accolade acknowledging Wilson’s unprecedented year that saw her named the league’s most valuable player for a record fourth time, as well as co-defensive player of the year and finals MVP.

“It’s an honor when you think about the group of women who have won before,” Wilson said to the AP. “Just to have my name be a part of it, I’m blessed.”

The Las Vegas Aces forward, who led her team to its third championship in four years, is just the fifth basketball player to be recognized for the award following Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995), Candace Parker (2008, 2021) and Caitlin Clark (2024).

Wilson is the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win the championship; be named Finals MVP, league MVP and DPOY; and claim the scoring title in the same season. In June, she also became the fastest player to ever reach the 5,000-point milestone in the league.

To celebrate collecting an array of on-court achievements this season, Wilson donned a replica of Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet during the Aces’ victory parade in October. Under each of the golden glove’s six Infinity Stones — which took the iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe villain an entire 23-film saga to collect and unleash — Wilson reportedly wrote down a different season honor.

“When you’ve collected everything, that’s Thanos,” Wilson said to Time, which named her the outlet’s Athlete of the Year on Tuesday. “And this year, I collected everything. I don’t really talk much [s—]. … I kind of let my game do it. This was my biggest moment of doing it, because no one’s ever done what I’ve done. And I think people really needed to understand that.”

It appears Wilson will need to procure another gauntlet just to commemorate her numerous accomplishments off of the basketball court as well. In February, the former Gamecock standout saw her alma mater South Carolina hang her college jersey in the rafters. In May, the two-time Olympic gold medalist saw the first batch of her Nike signature shoe sell out in a day. The bestselling author was also recently revealed as a member of the 2026 Met Gala’s host committee.

In addition to being the WNBA’s only four-time MVP and a three-time champion, Wilson is a two-time Finals MVP, a three-time DPOY and a seven-time All Star. And she’s just getting started.

“I’m just going to continue to prove why I’m one of the greatest and why my team is part of a dynamic dynasty,” Wilson told the AP.

Walker Scobell opens up about the dangerous chariot sequence that left him stunned as Percy Jackson season 2 premieres on Disney Plus

A star from Percy Jackson and the Olympians has revealed details of a “crazy and terrifying” stunt filmed for the second season.

The newest chapter of the Disney Plus series has arrived on the streaming service, with the opening two episodes now available. Viewers will need to tune in weekly as Percy and his companions embark on a fresh quest into unexplored territory.

This season adapts the second novel in Rick Riordan’s hugely popular book series, the Sea of Monsters, with Disney Plus promising “action packed mayhem and higher stakes than ever”.

The streaming giant reveals: “After Camp Half-Blood’s protective border is breached, Percy Jackson embarks on an epic odyssey into the Sea of Monsters in search of his best friend Grover and the one thing that may save the camp – the legendary Golden Fleece.

“With help from Annabeth, Clarisse and his newfound cyclops half-brother Tyson, Percy’s survival becomes essential to stopping Luke, the Titan Kronos, and their impending plan to bring down Camp Half-Blood – and ultimately, Olympus.”, reports the Express.

Despite only two episodes being released, there’s already been plenty of thrilling moments for audiences – with one sequence leaving the cast particularly impressed.

Viewers will remember scenes featuring chariot racing, an ancient mode of transportation and competitive sport that involves controlling a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses.

Leading star Walker Scobell, portraying Percy Jackson, has spoken candidly about the chariot sequences and the “crazy” and perilous nature of filming them.

Walker revealed: “So on the first day of filming I didn’t know I was going to do any chariot riding, right? Because it’s so dangerous: I got to watch some test footage of them going out and messing around out there before we were filming and it looked terrifying.

“I was like, ‘Okay, I’m not doing that.’ But I get there on the day and they’re like, ‘Hop in! Just kind of drive the chariot around the second part of this oval stadium and then park right in between these two horses…’ So, I had to learn right there. It was crazy.”

For Leah Jeffries, who portrays Annabeth Chase, the chariot sequences proved equally memorable, describing it as “one of my most fun days.”

Executive producer Jonathan Steinberg acknowledged the ambitious nature of the scene, explaining it was among the elements he was most eager for audiences to witness: “Our goal was to push this thing as far as it would go and then push it a little further. The chariot race was scary.

“I mean at the end of the day, we want the show to be great and we take that really seriously, but we also want everybody to be safe and okay. And strapping kids to horses at full speed… it just doesn’t seem like a good idea when you start planning it.

“So, the fact that we were able to do that and have it turn out great and also have everybody walk away from it smiling was a big deal.”

Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 is available to stream on Disney Plus.

AT the age of 66 – with 200million record sales behind him and millions in the bank – Simon Cowell could be forgiven for taking his foot off the pedal.

But six years after collecting his bus pass – and he loves buses – the music mogul is back, and on a mission.

His new Netflix show, aptly titled The Next Act, will see him scouring the country in the hope of discovering the planet’s biggest boyband.

Over the years, Simon has sat through hundreds of interviews, painstakingly answering the same, insipid questions.

But having been pals with him for 20 years, I wanted to do something a little bit different.

So we celebrated my 35th (plus a few years) birthday together at a McDonald’s after Si discovered I’d never visited a drive-thru before. His driver, Tony, took us in Simon’s decked-out Lexus, which comes complete with mini-bar and plasma-screen TV.

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While there, I grilled Simon – who has son Eric, 11, with partner Lauren Silverman – in a hilarious game of “Ask Me Anything”.

In a chat that won’t be winning me a Pulitzer any time soon, Simon cheerily answered a raft of, erm, probing questions.

From bathing FOUR times a day and having all his filler dissolved, to how he has lost three stone thanks to a 600-calorie-a-day regime, no question was off limits.

Here, in his own words, is Simon as you’ve never seen him before.

SIMON’S DIET & LIFESTYLE

FIVE years ago, Mr Cowell cut a very different figure.

By his own admission, he was “puffy” and unhappy with his appearance.

To overcome it, he dramatically upped his workout regime — he trains or cycles daily now — and slashed his calories to less than 1,000 a day (bar today’s “cheat day”).

CM: Do you have a gastric band?

SC: No! I did have a LINX band put in though which stops the acid going up into my chest.

And I cut out sugar, dairy, red meat, gluten . . . I had the diet of a school boy, and was told by a dietician it was the worst diet he’d ever seen.

I have four 90-calorie beers a day, but pour half the beer out and make it a shandy.

I basically eat the same things every day. Breakfast is a green, protein smoothie with fruits, a lot of blackcurrants, porridge and tea, and lunch is half a hot cross bun.

I eat dinner at about 4.30pm and because I wake up at 9.30, 10am, I can go 17 hours without eating: Intermittent fasting.

CM: Have you ever tried the fat jab?

SC: No, I’ve never been tempted, sorry.

CM: How many push-ups can you do?

SC: About 40 in one go. I have these two little bar things and every day I do somewhere between 300 and 600. If I’m really going for it, a thousand.

CM: Will you show us?

SC: No, Clemmie, I am not doing press-ups in McDonalds’.

CM: How much sleep do you get a night?

SC: Ten hours. I have these amazing blue light glasses for it and they’re incredible.

CM: Do you wear pyjamas?

SC: Yes.

CM: How many units of Botox have you had?

SM: Oh God, thousands.

CM: Have you had a facelift?

SC: No! Everyone always thinks I have but I haven’t. I used to have filler but then one day I saw a picture of myself and thought, “Oh God, I look like a real weirdo”.

So I had everything dissolved.

CM: How old would you like to be when you finally, you know, cark it?

SC: I said earlier this year that I age backwards. So instead of being 66, I consider myself to be 64. Next year I will be 62.

I think I can live to 100. If I can remove all my stress, carry on with the diet and, you know, we’re discovering new stuff all the time.

CM: Do you biohack?

SC: Well I’ve started on peptides now — I’m on NAD+ [an amino acid said to promote cell turnover and longevity] and am feeling really good for it. I also take Boots Dual Defence [nasal spray] daily and can’t remember the last time I had a cold.”

SIMON’S BITS & BOBS

CM: Have you had your dogs cloned?

SC: I love dogs, sometimes more so than humans. If you love them, they are so loyal and love you unconditionally back.

I have four now: Pebbles the Alsatian, Squiddly, Diddly and Daisy, who is a rescue from Barbados, so she really hates the winter months. They’re like my babies.

So, cloning isn’t as easy as I thought. They don’t just turn up as sweet little puppies in a box. There are ethical concerns so you have to get a donor dog and it’s essential you keep and look after that donor dog, which I absolutely would do.

Otherwise, it’s not right and people who are cruel to animals are the most disgusting people in the world. They are sickos. They deserve custodial sentences — it just upsets me so much.

CM: What’s the funniest thing you have ever read about yourself?

SC: Probably something you wrote about me.

CM: Do you read below-the-line comments?

SC: Absolutely not. I’ve a theory that the really bad comments, whoever posts them, if they’re guys, they have blue duvets with a lot of stains on them. Always dark blue. Living with their mum and dad with filthy duvets. So I refuse to read them.

CM: Ever been to Primark?

SC: Yes, yes. Eric got some PJs, which I promise you are the softest pyjamas I’ve ever touched in my life. And they’re really cute. They’re from Primark!

CM: Have you shopped at TX Maxx?

SC: What’s TK Maxx?

CM: Ever flown Wizz Air?

SC: No, but I flew easyJet to Spain once.

CM: Do you fly cattle?

SC: Um, well, I fly commercial. But in a flat-down bed. I don’t fly private jet.

CM: Do you pray?

SC: I pray every night, yeah. I believe that we have a guardian angel. I believe in God and in the powers of the universe. It’s all combined. And I’m definitely going to heaven. I hope so.

There’ll be my old dogs, all my old friends, my mum and dad.

CM: How many mirrors do you have in your house?

SC: Lots. But actually, I don’t really think I’m that vain.

CM: What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done?

SC: Like what?

CM: I don’t know, have you ever wet yourself?

SC: No Clemmie, I haven’t wet myself.

CM: What’s your biggest bugbear?

SC: People with bad breath.

CM: Have you found the new One Direction in your Netflix show?

SC: Well, I don’t know. All I know is that if people like them as much as I like them — and I really, really do have a bond with these boys — then I will be so happy.

They’re real, they’re not privileged, they have no leg-up, apart from this.

One of them is still working in a fast-food restaurant. They’re just lovely, funny boys.

SIMON’S QUIRKS

CM: Do you wear fresh pants every day?

SM: Yeah, of course. I’ve got them all lined up in a drawer, in their little white boxes. I think I have OCD.

CM: Do you wear lifts in your shoes?

SC: No! But yes, I do wear a Cuban heel which gives me an extra inch.

CM: Do you Google “Simon Cowell”?

SC: No because I read things like I wear boosters in my shoes. I probably last Googled myself seven or eight years ago.

CM: When did you last get the Underground?

SM: “Erm, probably not this century. But I do love a double-decker bus, the top deck.

CM: What jeans do you wear?

SM: I wear Giorgio Armani ones, and I’ve only got one pair. People don’t really think I have legs because they always see me sitting down.

CM: How many T-shirts do you own? And do you get a discount code on them?

SC: I have 200 identical charcoal grey Derek Rose T-shirts. I do get a pretty good deal on them actually, yes. I don’t have to think about anything then.

CM: What’s your most annoying habit?

SC: Apparently I snore. But actually, I chew gum really loudly and it drives everyone mad. It’s a chewing gum called CB12. It really irritates everyone.

CM: What irritates you the most?

SC: I have a thing about smells, and hygiene. You smell good by the way. So do you two in the front [points to Sophie, The Sun’s producer, and Tony, his long-term driver].

I want to make a new show actually called The Most Disgusting Show In The World to show people what we actually eat and breathe, and how disgusting we really are. Like, all the bed bugs in our beds, that freaks me out. Everything does.

I’m allergic to them so I have to get my mattress and carpets steamed all the time to get rid of the dust mites or whatever.

SIMON’S CHEAT McDONALD’S ORDER

A DOUBLE Filet-O-Fish and small fries – eaten only after sanitising his hands (and mine).

He says: “Excitingly, we’re going into unknown territories now with the double fish burger. This is quite new, so I am very eager to try it.”

He then proceeds to remove the bun, and cheese, and pick at two slivers of lightly-battered fish patties. And has three fries.

•  Simon Cowell: The Next Act is available to stream now on Netflix.

The press has often labeled Mon Laferte a “femme fatale” — a seductive woman who inflicts distress upon her love interests.

Nearly two decades into her singing career, the Chilean singer-songwriter has learned to embrace the old-fashioned trope of the wizened seductress in “Femme Fatale,” her ninth studio album, which she released in October.

“I came to the conclusion that there’s a perception of me as a woman who is really liberated — that’s why it’s dangerous. [She’s] a person who is sure of herself and that generates a lot of insecurity in other people,” said Laferte in a Zoom call, just after she attended the 2025 Fashion Awards with designer Willy Chavarria in London. (“I went to Camden and took a photo next to [Amy Winehouse’s] statue,” she noted, citing inspiration in the late R&B star.)

Laferte reckons with her dangerous womanhood on “Femme Fatale:” a compilation of jazzy, cabaret pop ballads, elevated by the roaring theatrical vocals she made famous in such past hits as “Tu Falta de Querer” and “Mi Buen Amor.” Prior to releasing the album, Laferte notably starred as Sally Bowles in a Mexico City production of the famous American musical “Cabaret.” It was a crash course on theater — which heavily influenced Laferte’s now most penetrating record to date.

Each song in “Femme Fatale” feels like a descent into a speakeasy. It tells stories of loves past — which at times feel nauseating for the 42-year-old singer, born Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte in Viña del Mar, Chile.

Among them is “Otra Noche de Llorar,” in which she mourns an unrequited love; then there’s “El Gran Señor,” in which she scorns a cowardly abuser of women. The record climaxes with “1:30,” a briskly improvised tune, in which Laferte balances stories of abuse, self-pleasuring and fake orgasms with historical themes — like the global industrial revolution, as well as Pinochet’s Caravan of Death in 1973.

“The song is really political and everything is my own story,” said Laferte, who admits that even she finds her song difficult to listen to. “The last part is the hardest — where I talk about a conquest — to the point where I can’t listen to that song. It’s really uncomfortable. It’s hard to talk about something so shamelessly.”

“Femme Fatale” is a deeply personal journey that leads to Laferte making peace with her past. The record concludes with the lively orchestral number “Vida Normal,” in which she grapples with the revelation that she’s turning into her mother — especially after giving birth to her first child in 2022 with husband Joel Orta, guitarist for Mexican band Celofán.

“It was a really honest way of saying that, after everything, I just want a normal life,” said the five-time Latin Grammy winner.

But before the Chilean femme fatale can settle into a vida normal, she will first embark on the 2026 Femme Fatale tour, which includes dates in Latin America and later the United States. Laferte’s first stop will be in her hometown of Viña del Mar for the International Song Festival. “It’s like returning home,” she said.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mon Laferte is a five-time Latin Grammy winner.

(Mayra Ortiz)

You were just in London for the Fashion Awards with Willy Chavarria, who was nominated for designer of the year. How was that experience?
I came as a guest of Willy’s. We had dinner and saw a lot of super fashionable people, many artists with their super cool looks. Fashion has always been interesting to me ever since I was a little girl, outside of singing, dancing and playing the guitar. I liked to draw women and their outfits, dresses, things like that… Perhaps that’s where my dreams began to be a designer. Aesthetically in my last album, “Autopoiética,” it was all baroque — I was a bit like Marie Antoinette, I wore large dresses in my shows. This time in “Femme Fatale,” [the style is] bohemian, with sequins and makeup running.

“Femme Fatale” is intense and sexy. Why did you decide to go with that phrase for the album title?
 ”Femme fatale has a bit of a negative weight to it. You think of a scornful woman that always brings misfortune and does evil things. And it’s a name that the press has given me: La Femme Fatale Chilena.

And I liked it. I like this title because I like to play with the concepts of a dangerous woman. I like that it’s dramatic, because I like music that is theatrical and dark. It doesn’t mean that I am that woman who is secure and free — I have been in various moments in my life, not all the time. But I like that people label me in that way.

How would you describe the musical style?
I wanted to take [the album] into the world of jazz so that it could sound nocturnal, so it could sound melancholic. In the last couple of years I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz, so why not make an album that I like to listen to? When I was a little girl, I listened to jazz in my home because of my mom, but I felt like it was boring. Later when I was in my teens I was like: “This is elevator music.”

But as I kept growing, I got rid of that prejudice. When I began to listen to jazz without any judgment, I began to find poetry and a lot of madness as well. I think it’s the improvisation aspect; you have to be very daring to enter the void, because your improv is coming and it’s to the death. That’s something that I’m passionate about. I think it’s demented and poetic at the same time.

This fall you were in a production of the musical “Cabaret” in Mexico City. How was that experience and did it inspire your music for “Femme Fatale”?
Yes! I feel like they complemented each other. I feel that my role as Sally Bowles in the theater fed that universe of “Femme Fatale.” There’s a song in the album, “Vida Normal,” that is a song that could go in a musical and that was the intention. My experience with theater was wonderful and I had a lot of fun and learned a lot in the intensive process.

I wanted to talk about the song, “Vida Normal.” You hint at becoming more like your mother and living a normal life, which feels a bit at odds with the “Femme Fatale” theme. Was that intentional?
Totally. Because the first song, “Femme Fatale,” describes me up to the present: I always bring chaos, I always destroy what I love, I’m an expert in self-sabotage. But I have been letting those things go with time, thankfully. With the songs in “Femme Fatale” I went deeper into my past, in order to kill that persona.

[“Vida Normal”] is really honest and represents me in the present. I look in the mirror and I don’t recognize myself when I’m barefaced or before getting in the shower — my body changed, especially after motherhood. It’s true that I see my mother’s face and it’s hard to recognize that. I’m getting old. I’m at that age where I don’t recognize myself as either young, or old, in my 40s. It appeared beautiful to close that album that way. It was a really honest way of saying that after everything, I just want a normal life.

One song that caught my attention was the jazz song “1:30.” You talk about fantasies that women don’t often talk about. What was the thought process behind this song?
I think those have been the hardest lyrics I’ve ever written. I touch on a lot of microtopics — masturbation, fake orgasms — I think many of us have gone through that. I talk about abuse, sexual abuse, the Caravan of Death that occurred during the dictatorship of Pinochet in Chile. The song is really political and everything is my own story. The last part is the hardest, where I talk about a conquest, to the point where I can’t listen to that song. It’s really uncomfortable. It’s hard to talk about something so shamelessly.

I talked with my musicians and told them that I wanted this to be fast, almost desperate, almost like the bass being the protagonist so that it gives you a sense of urgency, like [we’re] fleeing in a way. We played together like 8 times and I liked that take.

The album also features Natalia Lafourcade and Silvana Estrada on “My One and Only Love.” What was it like to work with these different voices that are often compared to each other?
As all three of us sang, I realized that we are so different, each our own universe. I guess we relate to being singer-songwriters but we are distinct universes. I think that [comparison] has to do with us being women; there’s so many male-led bands that one can say are similar too.

We’re all good friends. I’ve known Natalia for many years now and we love each other and they’re all talented women. All three voices sound very beautiful together and I love harmonizing. It was precious to sing together in a song that I find to be the most beautiful in the album. It’s sweet and honest. It talks about the difficulties between partners — and it describes me and my husband. At the end of the day we love each other and continue to be present.

The actor known for playing Mr Bean and Blackadder has a gentler role this Christmas on Netflix

Iconic comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson says he is finally playing a character he doesn’t hate. Atkinson, 70, plays the role of Trevor Bingley for the second time in new Christmas Netflix series Man vs Baby.

Hapless Bingley, is supposed to have left the stressful world of housesitting for the quieter life of a school caretaker. But he ends up with a penthouse to look after for Christmas and a baby dubbed ‘Baby Jesus’ to burp after a series of mix ups.

Atkinson said: “Trevor Bingley, in his basic form, is arguably one of the nicest people I’ve ever played. Because I think most people I’ve played are sort of deeply unpleasant, really, you know, Mr. Bean is a selfish, self serving, anarchic child. Blackadder, is a sort of sarcastic and sardonic and basically negative force, I think.

“Even Johnny English is a sort of vain, sort of charmless. I think actually, Trevor has turned out to be one of my more pleasant, amenable creations. I quite like playing the nice guy which I haven’t done very often.”

Speaking at the series premiere in London, Atkinson went on to say he wouldn’t even have dinner with Mr Bean or Blackadder who would “have a sarcastic remark for everything”. Atkinson also revealed ‘Baby Jesus’, the other star of the series, is actually played by four babies, two twins for the close ups and two ‘stunt babies’ for other crawling scenes as they can only ‘work’ for 45 minutes at a time.

He joked: “There’s not much chat between takes with the co-star. But you go with the flow.”

“They are great looking, aren’t they?” He added. “I say ‘they’ because when you’re trying to use babies in film, you go for twins, and our twins were great. But, yes, you’re right – the babies are scene-stealers, that’s their very nature.

“It’s that strange thing when you’re watching a baby, because you know that they’re not acting, they’re just being themselves and reacting to the situation surrounding them. As such, they’re completely unpredictable, but also completely engaging, because you know they’re giving an inherent truth that you’re not getting from an adult performer.”

Atkinson himself is a father-of-three, having had two children – Ben and Lily – with his first wife Sunetra Sastry some times ago and a third child Isla, 8, from his current relationship with second wife Louise, who he married in 2014. And he says being a real life dad helped him for the role, despite him having to play at being terrible with a tot.

“Well, experience helps! He said. “It’s a bit like when I played Maigret for ITV a few years ago, the French detective. An important aspect of Maigret was that he smokes a pipe all the time which is an incredibly unfashionable thing to do in this day and age. But it wasn’t unfashionable or uncommon in the 1950s which is when the drama was set and also when I was a student – that’s a terrible admission!

“And it’s the same thing with holding a baby. If you’ve done it in real life, you look realistic doing it on screen. I’m pretty comfortable holding a baby.”

The series launches today(THURS) and whilst there are no plans yet for a third season, as this caper follows Man vs Bee from 2022 with the same lead character, it seems like a possibility. Atkinson won’t be making the decision based on any reviews though or critical acclaim, as he only cares it viewers like it as family entertainment this Christmas.

Sounding bullish he said: “I haven’t read a review or critique of anything I’ve done since the 20th century so I don’t know what reviewers, pundits and critics think of what I do, because the only thing that interests me is how many people watch this, and would they like to watch more? That’s the litmus test, and the sign of success, to me.”

* Four part series Man vs Baby launches on Netflix on Thursday December 11.

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ED Sheeran plans to create his own “countryside Abbey Road Studios” – in a 19th century dilapidated piggery.

After selling over 200 million albums worldwide and being one of the biggest superstars on earth, Ed Sheeran has chosen a dilapidated farm to be his rural version of Abbey Road Studios.

Dating back to the 19th century, recent pictures show the piggery and barn in ruins, but the singer has grand plans to turn this historic farmstead into a music-making haven.

The location is not far from “Sheeranville”, his extensive 16-acre estate in Suffolk which he’s been building on for the past decade.

Ed quietly bought the farm estate, which includes a Grade II-listed farmhouse – around 400 years old – for £1,100,000 over two years ago.

Since then, his team of planners and architects have been liaising with the council regarding planning rights when it comes to converting the outbuildings.

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Plans for the piggery reveal that it will be given a dramatic overhaul with a large main studio in the middle, “studio space” either side of this, plus equipment storage.

This application faced little opposition from council departments especially after an ecology report showed that there was minimal impact to any protected species.

The piggery had “negligible suitability for roosting bats”, “very low potential for great crested newts”, although it would provide “potential habitat for nesting birds”.

So Ed’s team promised to work around the nesting season, ideally just the September to February months.

It wasn’t quite as simple converting the barn into a “flexible commercial space”, which, for Ed, will be a music studio to rehearse and make his hit-selling records.

Plans show this smaller space will be split over two levels; on the ground floor will be a studio, storage, kitchen, shower and toilet. While the upper floor is to be an “office/library”.

Some council teams were concerned and initially objected.

Land contamination wanted a “desk study conducted by a qualified geo-environmental consultant’ rather than a ‘simplified’ questionnaire, which Ed’s team had initially submitted but was told it was ’not suitable for this development”.

Environmental protection also objected about the potential of ’noise impact’ on a nearby farmhouse, although it was quickly realised that this was Ed’s own farmhouse.

Highways and the public right of way were concerned about ‘significant increases’ in vehicle movements and the impact this would have on a nearby public footpath.

But these were only minor hitches before the council gave the green light last month.

Although there could be one bigger issue if Ed – who has a sprawling property portfolio – plans to bring his band to the countryside compound.

If Ed and his backing crew end up making a record-breaking album in the barn, then it would be breaking strict planning conditions.

The council’s approval notice states: “The use of the barn shall remain functionally linked to the adjacent dwelling as a personal studio space.

“[The] reason to safeguard the residential amenity of nearby occupiers and to ensure that the development remains acceptable in terms of noise impact.”

This condition came after Ed’s team stated in its planning statement that the barn’s music studio would be solely for the owner’s use.

It said: “The barn sits within a large private space with a formal, established, access from the adjacent road. The change of use can be easily achieved within the existing structure of the barn, with no extensions or alteration works proposed.

“As noted above the proposed use will be limited to personal use by the owner / occupier of the adjacent Tannington Barn. We would be happy for any consent to include a condition to this effect.”

SANTA FE, N.M. — A new conservation agreement will preserve land with breathtaking desert vistas that inspired the work of 20th century painter Georgia O’Keeffe and ensure visitors access to an adjacent educational retreat, several partners to the pact announced Tuesday.

Initial phases of the plan establish a conservation easement across about 10 square miles of land, owned by a charitable arm of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), on the outskirts of the village of Abiquiu.

That easement stretches across reservoir waterfront and native grasslands to the doorstep of a remote home owned by O’Keeffe’s estate, a few miles from her larger home and studio in Abiquiu. Both homes are outside the conservation area and owned and managed separately by the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe.

The view from the rangeland should be familiar to even casual O’Keeffe afficionados — including desert washes, sandstone bluffs and the distant mountain silhouette of Cerro Pedernal.

“The stark colorful geology, the verdant grasslands going right down to the Chama River and Abiquiu lake — all that just makes it such a multifaceted place with tremendous conservation value,” said Jonathan Hayden, executive director of the New Mexico Land Conservancy that helped broker the conservation plan and will oversee easements.

Hayden said the voluntary plan guards against the potential encroachment of modern development that might subdivide and transform the property, though there are not any imminent proposals.

Land within an initial easement has been the backdrop to movie sets for decades, including a recreation of wartime Los Alamos in the hit 2024 film “Oppenheimer, ” on a temporary movie set that still stands.

The conservation agreement guarantees some continued access for film productions, as well as preserving traditional winter grazing for farmers who usher small herds down from the mountains as snow arrives.

The state of New Mexico is substantially underwriting the initiative though a trust created by state lawmakers in 2023.

An approved $920,000 state award is being set aside for easement surveys, transaction costs and a financial nest-egg that the Presbyterian Church Foundation will use — while retaining property ownership — to support programming at the adjacent Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center and its use of the conservation area.

The center attracts about 10,000 visitors a year to overnight spiritual, artistic and literary retreats for people of all faiths, with twice as many day visitors, said center CEO David Evans.

Two initial phases of the conservation plan are part of a broader plan to protect more than 30 square miles (78 square kilometers) of the area through conservation easements and public land transfers, with the support of at least one wildlife foundation. That would extend protections to the banks of the Chama River and preserve additional wildlife habitat.

Many Native American communities trace their ancestry to the area in northern New Mexico where O’Keeffe settled and explored the landscape in her work.

Lee writes for the Associated Press.

The Chase star Jenny Ryan has been inundated with support as she shared an exciting update

Jenny Ryan, star of The Chase, has received an outpouring of support as she shared some thrilling news unrelated to her ITV role.

The 43 year old quiz aficionado took to Instagram to post a photo of herself dressed as the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, announcing that the first performances of Sleeping Beauty had commenced at Wyvern Theatre in Swindon.

Jenny has been cast as the Wicked Fairy Carabosse in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty, sharing the stage with David Ashley and Ben Goffe.

The plot teases: “When the wicked fairy Carabosse’s evil curse causes the Princess to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, can anyone rescue her from the magical slumber before it is too late?

“Make your dreams come true this Christmas and visit the Wyvern Theatre to see Sleeping Beauty.”, reports Bristol Live.

Sharing a snapshot of herself in character as the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, Jenny excitedly wrote: “We are OPEN!”.

“See me and a spectacular cast in Sleeping Beauty at @wyverntheatre in Swindon from now until 4th January #panto #swindonpanto.”

Jenny’s 92.2K followers were quick to show their support. One fan commented: “Awww you look beautiful Jenny good luck xxxx”.

Another follower said: “Good luck for tonight and for the rest of the panto season”, while another added: “We saw you on Saturday. Such a great show and you are an amazing singer xx”. Another fan chimed in with: “You were BRILLIANT.”

Meanwhile, another supporter wrote: “Good luck and have a brilliant season xxx”, and yet another wished her: “Have a wonderful run xxx”.

Another commented: “You look lovely Jenny have a wonderful time” whilst a different person gushed: “Hi sweetheart you look fabulous xx.”

Jenny is widely recognised as The Vixen on The Chase, but beyond the ITV quiz show, the star boasts remarkable singing, musical and theatrical abilities.

The ITV personality first demonstrated her vocal prowess when she took part in The X Factor: Celebrity back in 2019.

Since then, Jenny has graced numerous pantomime stages, portraying the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Darlington Hippodrome in 2023 and The Enchantress in Beauty and the Beast at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre in 2024.

COMEDIAN Andy Dick was reportedly found unresponsive outside a Hollywood building, sparking fears he may have suffered an overdose.

Witnesses urged Dick, who has more than 180 acting credits to his name, to wake up.

Dick, 59, was seen slumped over while sitting on steps in Hollywood, according to TMZ.

His glasses were on the ground.

Dick has since told TMZ that he’s OK.

He didn’t reveal any details about the suspected overdose.

Dick was given Narcan at the scene – a drug that can rapidly reverse the effects of an overdose.

Dick, a comedian and actor, appeared in the 1999 movie Inspector Gadget where he played Kramer.

He was also known for his roles in the movies Reality Bites, Road Trip, and Employee of the Month.

Dick, who appeared on the NBC show NewsRadio and The Ben Stiller Show during the 1990s, has struggled in the past with alcohol and drug addiction.

In 2012, he revealed he had been in and out of rehab more than 10 times.

“I would always say that I didn’t have a problem with drugs and alcohol,” he told Vice in 2016.

“But I would drink when I was happy, when I was sad, when I was anxious.

“Without drugs or alcohol, I was depressed, frustrated, angry.”

Dick has previously been convicted of drug offenses.

In 1999, he was arrested after being found in possession of cocaine and marijuana.

Cops found the drugs after Dick crashed his car into a telephone pole.

Dick pleaded guilty but he signed up for a diversion program, which meant the charges were dropped.

In 2008, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug charges.

Dick’s acting career has spanned almost 40 years, according to his IMDB.

He has voiced characters in cartoon shows such as Johnny Bravo, and films such as The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride.

No one needs reminding that 2025 began in an L.A. aflame. Musicians didn’t escape the fires, especially in Altadena. Concerts were canceled but then became events of communal healing, a process that continues.

There were further troubling signs. Institutions continued to struggle to bring audiences back to pre-COVID numbers. Major orchestras and opera companies — San Francisco Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, among them — feared fraught contract negotiations. Government funding for the arts dried up. Censorship, new to modern America, appeared a threat. And a military presence on downtown L.A. streets made trips to the Music Center and elsewhere in DTLA less inviting.

Our picks for this year’s best in arts and entertainment.

Still, classical music’s survival instincts proved reliable. New leaders of L.A.’s arts institutions are bringing vitality to the region, empowering musicians and giving fans hope and optimism. Here are my Los Angeles classical music highlights of 2025.

Coachella phenom of the year

It has been a year of transition for Gustavo Dudamel. The long “Gracias Gustavo” goodbye to the Los Angeles Philharmonic music and artistic director has begun. For its part, the New York Philharmonic, where Dudamel is headed next season, wonders how it can ever top the L.A. Phil visit to Coachella in April. Pop music crowds, 100,000 strong, shouted, “L.A. Phil! L.A. Phil!” and “Gustavo! Gustavo!” Big cheers rang as well at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and on an Asia tour, particularly for Dudamel’s increasingly rich Mahler performances. In late winter he led an impressive Mahler Grooves festival; the summer brought an exhilarating performance of Mahler’s First Symphony and the fall an extraordinary Second Symphony.

Gustavo Dudamel onstage April 12 at the 2025 Coachella festival in Indio, where he conducted the L.A. Phil.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Orchestral visionary of the year

In his own transitional year, Esa-Pekka Salonen finished an unhappy five-year tenure as music director of a San Francisco Symphony that foolishly failed to share his vision with a startlingly dramatic Mahler Second — known, tellingly, as “The Resurrection.” That was followed three months later by the L.A. Phil announcing it was all in with its transformative former music director and had created a new position of creative director in which he would rethink the role of the symphony orchestra in society. As a preview, Salonen had conducted a revelatory performance of Pierre Boulez’s “Rituel” in the spring, with the L.A. Phil musicians and L.A. Dance Project dancers spilling around the Disney Hall stage.

Dancers from L.A. Dance Project perform as Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the L.A. Phil in Pierre Boulez’s “Rituel” on May 11 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

(David Swanson / For The Times)

L.A. opera director of the year, although you’d never know it in L.A.

Peter Sellars was barely home in 2025, although that is certain to change with the return of Salonen. Among his newsworthy projects in New York, France and Italy, a busy Sellars collaborated with Salonen on an unflinching, intense and unforgettable staging of two end-of-life monologues: Schoenberg’s “Erwartung” and, with yet more Mahler, the end of “Das Lied von der Erde.” On opening night, it left a gala audience stunned.

Former L.A. opera director of the year, although you’d never know it in L.A.

L.A.’s next-generation opera revolutionary, Yuval Sharon, bid his own farewell to the city where he founded the experimental company the Industry, and where he became L.A. Phil’s first artist collaborator. He now serves as artistic director of Detroit Opera and has relocated to New York City as he prepares to mount Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” at the Metropolitan Opera in March. But Sharon carried L.A. with him in 2025 to the University of Chicago, where he delivered the annual Berlin Family Lectures, and in which he considered opera from an anarchistic point of view, inspired by John Cage. He also staged in Chicago Cage’s “Europera 5,” completing a project he had begun in L.A., where, in collaboration with the L.A. Phil,” he had mounted “Europeras 1 & 2” on a Sony Pictures sound stage.

Uncompromising opera administrator of the year

While serving as interim managing director of Long Beach Opera in 2025, board chair Marjorie Beale put her company on the line by boldly devoting the entire season to the open-ended, deep listening music of the late Pauline Oliveros. While Oliveros worked little in opera and never in a remotely traditional manner, Beale felt the spiritual operatic substance of Oliveros’ work was what the company needed and what the world needs. Inspired, unexpected productions by the company’s artistic director and chief creative officer, James Darrah, and conducted by music director Christopher Rountree were staged in operatic byways (parks and the Queen Mary) as ear-opening, mind expanding experiences. It was a sell-out sensation season that may not have paid the bills, requiring some cutting back for next season as the company catches its breath but Beale has shown what it means to stand for something and why Long Beach Opera matters.

Wilding Wild Up

Along with his Long Beach Opera gig, Rountree is founder and music director of Wild Up, the avant-garde chamber orchestra of virtuoso musicians, all of whom happen to be progressive composers as well. For 15 years, Wild Up has been a crucial component in the grander L.A. vision of orchestral, operatic and dance reinvention. This year it found infectious joy in the music of Julius Eastman; it significantly helped the Martha Graham Dance Company remain relevant, and it began new series at the Nimoy in Westwood and Sierra Madre Playhouse.

More Pauline

Claire Chase, who has been one of the most influential instigators of the Pauline Oliveros revival, was this year’s Ojai Festival energizer bunny. Her flutes — from piccolo to bass and all in between — and friends became magic makers in this numinous physical and musical landscape. Oliveros’ deep listening and that of other composers of her environmental ilk, particularly the atmospherically ethereal sound worlds of Annea Lockwood, were made for Ojai.

Mark Morris Dance Group performs the world premiere of “Moon” at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater on April 4.

(ximena brunette / xmbphotography)

Saving the Kennedy Center (for a couple of days, anyway)

Choreographer Mark Morris staved off the federal government’s arts wrecking ball by salvaging his latest work, “Moon,” a commission for the Kennedy Center’s Earth to Space festival in April. The institution’s dance team hadn’t yet been fired. And Morris displayed, in this marvelous outer-space dance adventure, that wonder could exist in what had become the most unlikely of places.

Handel Heroine

French harpsichordist and conductor, Emmanuelle Haïm, the latest L.A. Phil artist collaborator, began a three-year Handel festival with a dazzlingly sung and played performance of the oratorio “Triumph of Time and Disillusion.” This study of extravagance and sanctity made Handel seem utterly relevant in his attempt to thwart early 18th century censorship and say something important.

Mehta and MTT

There are no words for what Zubin Mehta and Michael Tilson Thomas have meant for L.A. over the past three-quarters of a century. Native Angeleno and former music director of the San Francisco Symphony, MTT, who suffers from glioblastoma, retired from conducting with an 80th birthday celebration, hosted by the San Francisco Symphony, in a profoundly moving and musically fulfilling exhibition of valedictory resilience. Although Mehta, the L.A. Phil’s 89-year-old conductor emeritus, has canceled concerts that require travel, he took on Bruckner’s massive Eight Symphony with his old band. His movements are limited. He reportedly has difficulty with vision and hearing. Beyond all that, though, an orchestra that knows and loves him brought into existence, especially in the slow movement, an inner Mehta vista that felt like a world unto itself.

The celebrated adaptation with a 91% rating is making a welcome return to Prime Video.

The second season of a TV series hailed as ‘one of the best video game adaptations‘ is nearly here.

New episodes of Fallout will begin to drop later this month exclusively on Prime Video. The show is based on the highly successful gaming franchise of the same name.

Season one proved to be a big hit with critics and fans alike. As a result, expectations are high for its follow up. The title boasts a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, with one fan claiming : “Perfect show. Great characters and great story.”

Another added: “Walter Goggins absolutely steals the show in this brilliant adaptation of an epic video game saga. Nothing short of praise, Ella Purnell is simply perfect in her role. You’ll get hooked right away.”

But what will season two be about? Who is in the returning cast and are there new recognisable faces being introduced? Does the story take any direct inspiration from the games? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Fallout season 2 about?

The synopsis for the new season has been kept brief and simple in an aim to avoid any spoilers. However, it will pick up in the aftermath of season one’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.

It will continue the hunt for Lucy’s father, Hank, while delving deeper into Vault-Tec’s dark secrets, the pre-war world, and iconic Fallout: New Vegas elements like Caesar’s Legion, Mr. Robert House, and the iconic Deathclaws, promising more factions and locations.

Who is in the Fallout season 2 cast?

Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins are set to return to reprise their roles from season one as Lucy and The Ghoul respectively. Also set to appear once again are Aaron Moten as Maximus, a knight of the Brotherhood of Steel and Kyle MacLachlan as Hank, Lucy’s father.

There are few standout newcomers to the season as well. While the details of their characters are mostly left to speculation, fans did get a good idea of how they will appear in a recent trailer.

This includes former child star known for Christmas classic Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin. Also making his Fallout debut will be Kumail Nanjiani, known for Silicon Valley and Eternals.

One new cast member whose character we do know about is Justin Theroux. Star of The Leftovers and Mulholland Drive will take on one of the most popular characters from the game Fallout New Vegas. Theroux plays Mr. House and judging from images and trailers released, he will play the character before and after the nuclear apocalypse.

Which game is Fallout season 2 based on?

While the Fallout series is based on the game series, it is not a strict adaptation of any storyline. It mostly follows an original plot with unique characters. However, the premise from season one, with Lucy tracking down her father after he leaves the vault, is very similar to the player’s main questline in Fallout 3.

Likewise, season two will include characters and key locations from one of the most popular entries, Fallout New Vegas. While that game had multiple endings, the show’s makers have confirmed they will not be choosing any one to become an official canon. Instead, they are telling their own story within a location familiar to fans.

When are Fallout season 2 episodes released?

Fans will need some patience for new episodes this season. That is because instalments will drop on a weekly basis rather than allowing viewers to binge the season all at once.

The first episode will premiere on December 17 with more dropping each week after that. Here is the full episode release schedule as confirmed by Prime Video:

• Episode One – December 17, 2025
• Episode Two – December 24, 2025
• Episode Three – December 31, 2025
• Episode Four – January 7, 2026
• Episode Five – January 14, 2026
• Episode Six – January 21, 2026
• Episode Seven – January 28, 2026
• Episode Eight – February 4, 2026

Fallout season two is streaming on Prime Video from December 17, season one is streaming now.

GRAMMY-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes was fatally stabbed at his California home as his cops arrested his son on suspicion of murder.

Officers responded around 9.20pm on Monday to a 911 call reporting an ongoing assault at a Santa Monica residence.

They found Sykes, 71, inside his own home with “critical injuries consistent with a stabbing.”

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Cops say his son, 31-year-old Micah Sykes, was found in the home and taken into custody without incident.

He was booked on suspicion of homicide, and the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

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Authorities recovered a weapon and say the attack appears to have been an isolated domestic incident.

Lieutenant Lewis Gilmour of Santa Monica Police Department told the Daily Mail Jail that Micah is being held on a $2 million bail.

Investigators are still determining what led to the stabbing.

Police say the victim’s wife made the 911 call, and Micah Sykes reportedly had a history of mental health struggles.

Lieutenant Gilmour added: “The family reports the suspect had prior mental health issues. However, it is unknown if that contributed to the incident.”

Years before his father’s tragic death, Micah Sykes’ behaviour reportedly had already raised serious concerns.

In 2017, a Southern California woman secured a restraining order after alleging Micah had become threatening and unpredictable, according to Rolling Stone.

A petition obtained by the outlet reads: “Micah shows signs of mental instability. His behaviour is unpredictable. Micah poses a real threat… and he has been violent with his own family members.”

The filing claims he confronted the woman outside a church, declaring his love for her and insisting she felt the same.

When someone stepped in, Micah allegedly asked the man, “Do you have a sharp object in your back pocket?”, according to Rolling Stone.

He was later arrested following an attempted break-in at the man’s father’s home and placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold.

The restraining order was officially granted in October 2017.

Jubilant Sykes, a Los Angeles native, was a celebrated baritone nominated for best classical album at the 2010 Grammy Awards for “Bernstein: Mass.”

He performed at major venues including the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Apollo Theater, the Hollywood Bowl, the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Arena di Verona. 

He once told NPR: “My singing is like breathing – it’s an extension of me. I don’t think of it is extraordinary. It’s my passion.”

Orchestra Santa Monica said he served as an artistic advisor and performed and narrated with the group.

Music director Roger Kalia said: “Jubilant was a true inspiration—his artistry, generosity, and kindness touched countless lives.” 

His management team, ACM 360 Artists, said in a statement: “We are saddened to share news of the tragic passing of Grammy-nominated baritone, actor, husband, father, and beloved friend, Jubilant Sykes

“Jubilant’s remarkable artistry touched millions, and his voice was rightly described as ‘art at its highest expression.’”

Neighbours described Sykes as modest despite his international career, often seen gardening or shaping a tree in front of his home into a heart.

Anyone with information is asked to contact SMPD Detective Peter Zamfirov at 310-458-8451 or the department’s 24-hour Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.

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Raul Malo, who as frontman of the Mavericks brought a Latin rhythmic flair and a sweeping sense of romance to country music, died on Monday. He was 60.

His death was announced by the band in an Instagram post that didn’t specify the cause or say where Malo died. Last year, the singer told fans that he had been diagnosed with cancer; in September, Malo wrote on Facebook that he had developed leptomeningeal disease — a condition in which cancer metastasizes to the membranes around the brain and spinal cord — and was calling off the group’s upcoming concerts.

This past weekend, bandmates Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez and Jerry Dale McFadden performed with a cast of friends and admirers at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to mark the Mavericks’ 35th anniversary. Among the acts who paid tribute were Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Patty Griffin and Marty Stuart.

Their sound built around Malo’s muscular baritone, the Mavericks broke out in the 1990s with an expansive style of country music that pulled from big-band pop, ’50s-era rock and the Cuban music Malo heard growing up in Miami as the son of Cuban immigrants. As a singer, Malo was frequently compared to Roy Orbison; in 2001, he told The Times about his love for Tony Bennett.

The Mavericks released their self-titled debut album in 1990 and were quickly signed by MCA Nashville, which put out “From Hell to Paradise” in 1992. (The album’s title track was Malo’s description of his parents’ journey to America.) The band’s next LP, 1994’s “What a Crying Shame,” went platinum and spun off a series of hit country singles including the title track, “O What a Thrill” and “There Goes My Heart.” The next year the band recorded a cover of Rodgers & Hart’s “Blue Moon” for the soundtrack of Ron Howard’s Oscar-winning movie “Apollo 13.”

In 1996, the Mavericks won a Grammy Award for “Here Comes the Rain,” a chiming roots-rock number from their album “Music for All Occasions,” which featured appearances by Trisha Yearwood and the accordionist Flaco Jiménez. The Mavericks were twice named vocal group of the year at the Country Music Assn. Awards, in 1995 and 1996.

For 1998’s “Trampoline,” the band leaned into torch-song balladry and classic R&B but struggled to connect on country radio. The album “threw a lot of people for a loop,” Malo told The Times. “That’s OK. I liked it.” He followed the album with a solo debut, 2001’s “Today,” that further explored his Cuban heritage.

Malo was born in Miami in 1965. He co-founded the Mavericks in 1989 with Robert Reynolds, who had fronted an earlier band in which Malo played bass.

The group broke up after 2003’s “The Mavericks,” then reunited a decade later. The band’s most recent studio album, “Moon & Stars,” came out last year.

In addition to the Mavericks and his solo work, Malo also played with Los Super Seven, a sprawling roots-music supergroup whose other members included Jiménez, Freddy Fender and members of Los Lobos.

Among Malo’s survivors are his mother, Norma; his wife, Betty, and their sons, Dino, Victor and Max; and his sister Carol.

Simon Cowell’s new Netflix documentary, the Next Act, follows the music mogul – and his wife, Lauren – as the Britain’s Got Talent star looks for the next big boyband

Simon Cowell has admitted he wanted to pull the plug on his new Netflix documentary, The Next Act, which drops on the streaming platform today.

Seven years after The X Factor last aired, the music mogul, 66, is back with fans offering a behind-the-scenes look as he puts together a new band. The show features an in-depth look at how the music industry has changed – as well as fly-on-the wall scenes with Simon’s wife Lauren.

In a sneak peak of the show, Lauren, who is mum to Simon’s son, Eric, 10, warns the star he ‘worries too much’ as well as telling her partner of 11 years: “As long as I’m part of the journey” as Simon excitedly announces The Next Act’s ambitious format.

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Admitting he almost abandoned the project, which sees the star travelling around the country trying to find the singers he needs, he told Good Morning Britain today: “I almost pulled the plug.” Explaining his fears for the format of the show, he continued: “Things have changed so much. These boys are used to making music in their bedroom and now they’re in a live audition.”

GMB host, Susana Reid, praised Lauren for taking part in the show and “opening the doors” to the notoriously private couple’s relationship.

In one scene from the show, the mum-of-two accuses Simon of “moaning” before dramatically exiting in a heated moment. In the middle of auditioning potential band members, Simon takes a breather in episode two – resorting to an IV vitamin drip to rejuvenate his energy levels.

His partner, Lauren, expresses her concerns about his risk of “burnout” to the camera crew while also discussing her son Adam, who lives overseas.

Begging Lauren not to make him go to the whole of Adam’s graduation, Simon says: “Tell me about the weekend. I don’t have to be there for the whole graduation, do I?”

Lauren retorts: “Babe, you’re doing one thing for me which is going to my son’s high school graduation. Yes, you have to be there, OK? I mean, it’s not going to be long.

“Oh it is Lauren. They go on for hours”, Simon interjects as Lauren counters: “Babe, it’s one grade. It’s not like it’s a whole school. You’re his stepfather and he’s so proud of you. He wants to like, you know, show you off. He’s really excited for you to be there.”

Clearly emotional, Lauren concludes: “You make me feel bad about the graduation. You’ve known about this for f*****g five years. Now you’re making me feel like you don’t want to go. Then don’t go.

“You’re moaning about everything. Do whatever you want.”

* The Next Act is available on Netflix from December 10

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HELEN Flanagan offered up some festive sizzle for her Instagram fans as she stripped to a plunging bra, thong and suspender stockings.

The former Coronation Street actress, 35, flashed a smile while modelling her racy black and red lace lingerie which clung to her curves.

She opted for high-waisted knickers with lace up detail and sexy semi-sheer tights from Ann Summers for her at-home photoshoot.

Ever the stylish star, mum of three Helen perfectly matched her red lippie to the shade of her garments and styled her platinum blonde hair into a bouncy blow dry.

For one snap she posed on a grey sofa positioned next to a Christmas wreath spiralled around a staircase.

The ITV actress then stood for a full-length snap before sprawling around under a pretty white tree.

ROSIE RETURN

Helen Flanagan says she’s ready for shock Corrie comeback & sets career target

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Helen Flanagan strips to plunging red lingerie and flashes bum in thong

Other images saw her perched on her staircase while her final saucy snap captured her from behind, giving a glimpse of her derriere as she walked up the stairs.

In her caption, the Rosie Webster actress joked: “On the naughty list.”

A fan then wrote: “Dream woman,” as another gushed: “Just fabulous.”

A third posted: “Wow Helen you look absolutely incredible.”

The beauty, who will soon be back on screen after The Sun exclusively revealed she had signed up for Ex On The Beach, 

The snaps came after she recently posed in a plunging black corset after her new telly role came to light.

Last week, she also stripped to further festive lingerie – and clapped back at trolls who slammed her saucy snaps.

SCREEN RETURN

The star recently took a swipe at her ex Scott Sinclair, a former footballer with whom she shares her children.

The TV star who split from the sports star in 2022, has continued to co-parent their brood, and took a dig at him in reference to their arrangement.

And she may well spill more secrets on their tricky relationship after signing up to wild MTV series, Ex On The Beach.

Coronation Street’s 2024 shock exits

Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let’s break down who’s left the famous soap:

Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.

The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.

Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.

After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.

Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.

Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.

Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.

Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.

The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.

Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.

Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.

It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.

Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.

Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.

Sources have told us she is planning on causing fireworks with her stint on the show.

She has been single since splitting with her boyfriend Robbie Talbot in May.

A source said: “Helen was so excited to take part on Celebrity Ex On The Beach.

“She is a massive signing for MTV and they know what she can bring to the table.

“Helen is sexy, feisty, and won’t hold back on the show and she wants to cause some fireworks.

“This is a big show for her because it’s opening her up to a whole new audience who might not be familiar with what she’s done before.

“Helen is going to give Ex On The Beach her all and is out there now filming for the show.”

The Sun previously revealed Towie star Ella Rae Wise and Love Islander Anton Danyluk were taking part.

Helen, who has also previously appeared on I’m A Celebrity and Celebrity Super Spa, was last on screen on Celebs Go Dating last year.

She exclusively told The Sun she was “ready” for a Corrie comeback too – but bosses haven’t called.

Busta Rhymes got a young TikTok creator all in check over the weekend after he boldly and incorrectly identified the rapper as “Saturday Night Live” alum Tracy Morgan.

The “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check” and “Calm Down” rap veteran, 53, sternly set the record straight for the social media troll during an exchange Sunday at Art Basel in Miami Beach. In video of the interaction, published Monday by TMZ, the musician poses with a supposed fan for a photo op. “Get the video of this, it’s Tracy Morgan out here,” the jokester, wearing a black hoodie and baggy jeans, seems to say as he points to Rhymes.

The remark immediately elicited confusion from the rapper and the surrounding crowd. “Wait, what’d you say?,” the Grammy-nominated musician asks, according to the video. “What did you just say?”

For reference, Rhymes is a longtime hip-hop star who first rose to prominence in the late 1980s and is also known for songs “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” and Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now.” Over the years he has collaborated with Notorious B.I.G., Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Pharrell, T-Pain, Missy Elliott and Ye (formerly Kanye West), among others. Morgan, on the other hand, is an Emmy-nominated comedy veteran who was part of the “Saturday Night Live” cast from 1996 to 2003 before pivoting to comedy series including “30 Rock”, “The Last O.G.” and most recently, “Crutch.”

Both Rhymes and Morgan are Black men.

The video continues with Rhymes — real name Trevor Smith Jr. — requesting an onlooker put down their camera and asking the alleged fan to explain himself. “I’m trying to understand,” he can be heard saying, patting the Tiktoker on the shoulder.

“I’m asking you a question, I ain’t calling you out,” he says, later adding, “I was taking a picture to show you love, but you trying to be funny?”

“I’m not trying to be funny at all,” the young man replied.

“What [do] you mean, ‘Tracy, my boy?’”

As Busta Rhymes continues scolding the troll, the TMZ video pans over to the crowd and identifies Kenny Brooks, an internet personality known as Funny Salesman. While it’s unclear if Brooks played a part in the viral interaction, he shared videos and coverage of the exchange to his Instagram stories on Monday.

“You don’t play with a grown man, little boy — that’s how people get f— up,” Rhymes reportedly told the young man, who can be seen walking away from the scene alongside Funny Salesman at the end of the video. Brooks attempted to distance himself from the exchange, calling out TMZ in a TikTok posted Monday: “I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t there,” he said, despite video evidence pointing to the contrary.

“I’m not Shaggy, it wasn’t me. I don’t know what’s going on. I was like Stevie Wonder, I ain’t see nothing,” Brooks said, adding he was trying to get his own video with Rhymes.

He ended his post with a nod to Rhymes’ music: “I’m trying to put my hands where my eyes can see.”

The Good Morning Britain presenter made a cheeky joke about legal action against his co-stars on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Good Morning Britain presenter Rob Rinder delivered a cheeky jibe at Lord Alan Sugar during his appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice.

The festive special is making a comeback with two episodes this Christmas, boasting a star-studded lineup including AJ Odudu, Angela Scanlon, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, Jake Wood, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Thomas Skinner, Sarah Hadland, and Shazia Mirza.

Competing to raise funds for BBC Children In Need, the celebrities have been challenged with creating their own gingerbread biscuits, with filming taking them to Lapland for the task.

Facing off against fellow TV personalities, a Gladiator, a former Apprentice contestant, and several actors, Rob stepped up as project manager for his squad.

Despite Lord Sugar’s reputation for reducing countless hopefuls to rubble over the years, the barrister showed no signs of intimidation, reports Wales Online.

Lord Sugar kicked things off by remarking: “It would be good if I knew any of you, I’ve got your CVs here.

“Rob, apart from guiding these people legally, what do you feel you might be able to bring in a business point of view?”

The GMB presenter shot back: “Well, I can feel the assets of the other team, I’m hoping.”

He subsequently confessed: “My strategy going into this is wit, and if that fails, I’ll be bringing legal action.”

Upon arriving at their destination, Rob’s banter became even sharper, delivering a pointed quip about Lord Sugar whilst maintaining his fearless approach.

Discussing his team, he remarked: “These are exceptional people, when you have a wealth of that talent and a wealth of that experience, the most important thing is to empower people to speak.”

He boldly declared: “We live or die together, but if we fail, I’ll be the first person to offer myself to be sacked to Lord Sugar.

“I’m not the least bit afraid of him, my grandma was more frightening than him.”

Lord Sugar, speaking about the return of The Celebrity Apprentice, previously revealed: “It’s the first ever time on The Celebrity Apprentice that the public can buy products that were created by the celebrity candidates. It’s added some real pressure to the process.

“I think the celebs thought they were in for an easy ride, but they were wrong! Raising money for BBC Children in Need is serious business, so the candidates really need to deliver if they want to avoid ending up on my naughty list.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC, also chimed in: “The celebrity candidates will be giving viewers a tasty treat or two this Christmas that viewers can literally sink their teeth into, all while supporting the incredible work of BBC Children in Need. Are viewers going to be Team Gary the Penguin or Team Jolly McTrouble? Let the festive boardroom battle begin!”

Paul Broadbent, Director of Programmes at Naked, commented: “We have taken The Apprentice out of the boardroom and straight onto the shelves. These special episodes bridge the gap between entertainment and real-world impact. It is a rare opportunity for audiences to buy, taste and enjoy something they’ve watched being created on screen and it has been great fun seeing the celebs’ ideas come to life, all in aid of a fantastic charity.”

The Celebrity Apprentice airs on December 29 and 30 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.